KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography

also collapsed, and the academic community had to find ways of solving these problems
independently. As a result, students started buying textbooks and study materials, often
by force.
A number of instruments used by public officials to interfere with education are
conducive to corruption, such as the state educational standards, attestation, accreditation
and licensing of universities. Such measures are introduced because existing structures
no longer conform to new demands. Essentially, public officials used these instruments
to take control of educational facilities. In countries with a developed higher education
system, all of the above are instruments of public control. For instance, standards are
referred to as national, i.e. public and professional. The same is true of attestation,
accreditation, and certification.
Finally, because of inappropriate management methods and sanctions, professional
offenses are not rare. University professors, accustomed to abusing their authority,
receive presents for performing their duties and take bribes in order to treat certain
students favourably.
Such actions would have grave implications no matter where they take place.
However, the fact that they occur in education raises particular concern. The definition
of corruption in education includes both financial and professional elements. Education
is a guarantee of the nation’s social unity and, if the public understands that the system
is corrupt, it will lose faith in the nation’s future. If that happens, the nation will no
longer be able to operate on a par with developed societies. Ultimately, corruption
results in a low quality of education, uselessness in the market, and loss of private and
state investments in education. In turn, this may lead to other social, political, moral and
psychological problems.
The quality of education is one of most reliable indicators of future development for
any nation. In places where the quality of education is high, achievements are typically
high as well. A well-developed system of higher education has a positive impact on
state security the economy and the efficiency of the government.
In contrast, corruption in higher education destroys and obliterates the national
foundation, stripping the state and the people of a chance to implement changes, and to
establish and strengthen democratic and other values in society and its institutions.
Corruption prevention and anticorruption measures in the system of higher education
In light of the information above, it may seem important to develop a systematic
approach to counteract corruption in higher education. According to the author, the
following steps need to be taken:
I. At the national level:
1. To conduct anticorruption expert analysis of all regulatory acts on higher
education.
2. To check all instructions, provisions and draft laws in the area of higher education
for potential corruption elements.
3. To amend the legislation on education with anticorruption norms that provide
for disciplinary liability for corruption-related offenses by those working in higher
education.
4. To provide the highest possible transparency of the enrollment procedure through
legislative, organizational and technical means, including examinations, testing, and the
provision of state support to acceptees.
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